Preparations are well underway for the eighth annual Christmas at the Cathedral, a glittering celebration of Christmas performed by some of the region’s biggest names in music, TV, comedy and entertainment.
This year, the star-studded show will once again raise funds for North East cancer charity, The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation funds cutting-edge cancer treatment and innovative cancer support services that directly benefit patients from across the region and also contribute significantly to international research into the disease.
Vital funds will be raised from the concert as a host of celebrity stars perform songs, readings and comedy sketches while choirs will sing both traditional festive songs and Christmas Carols.
The concert will take place in front of a sellout crowd on Thursday, December 19 at St Nicholas Cathedral in Newcastle. Hosted by BBC Newcastle’s Alfie Joey and talented musician, Billy Mitchell, the audience can expect the usual high caliber of entertainment as in previous years.
As well as the performers and stage crew working hard to make the event a success, a number of kind-hearted businesses have donated money, goods and services in a number of sponsorship deals.
Each sponsor has their own personal reasons for supporting both the concert and The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
Lady Elsie Robson said: “I’m very grateful to all the sponsors who are supporting Christmas at the Cathedral this year. I hope they’ll enjoy the night as much as I know I will.”
Sir Bobby Robson launched his Foundation in 2008 and it has gone on to raise over £13.5 million to find more effective ways to detect and treat cancer.
Most recently, it made a contribution of £985,000 to fund COLO-SPEED, a region-wide bowel cancer research and treatment project involving 17 regional NHS endoscopy units, which aims to recruit up to 5,000 patients a year to speed up research into the disease.
The sponsors are:
Gainford Group,
Vermont Hotel, (Newcastle)
McGarry & Co Solicitors, Barnard Castle
Precision Connects
PPD Print Group, (North Shields)
The Bigger Picture Agency, (Newcastle)
Orbis Support (North Tyneside)
Made to Treasure Events and Stationery (North Shields)
Tyne Idols (North Shields)
The Deli Round the Corner (Tynemouth)
Highlights PR (Morpeth)
Layer 7 IT Security (Morpeth)
Real Taste of Northumberland (Alnwick)
Jonathan Wallis Chartered Surveyor (Barnard Castle)
Vintage Tea Party (North Tyneside)
James Palmer Utility Warehouse (Durham)
The Lock Restuarant (North Shields)
BBC Newcastle are the official media partners of the show.
Christmas at the Cathedral will take place on December 19 at 7pm.
Ends
Photo shows: Some of the sponsors at the Cathedral
L to R
Karen Goldfish (Made to Treasure) Claire Flint (Vermont Hotel) Jim Palmer (Utility Warehouse) Ken Johnson (Real Taste of Northumberland) Jonathan Wallis (Jonathan Wallis Chartered Surveyors) Adele Johnson (Real Taste of Northumberland) Nigel Devine (Orbis) Ray Laidlaw, Tina Hatton (Orbis) Julie Clay (Vintage Tea Party) Liz Luff (Sir Bobby Robson Foundation) Keith Newman (Highlights PR)
Media interviews available – Keith@highlightspr.co.uk07814 397951